Search - David Banner :: Mta2: Baptized in Dirty Water

We Ride..... With TVs... v12s...SUV's.... "Crank It Up"

J. Highsmith | Mitchellville, Maryland United States | 06/04/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have to be honest with you. Until I heard "Like A Pimp", I had no clue who David Banner was. The collaboration with Lil Flip was a club banger though and you couldn't be in a club at the time without someone playing that song. The track was in heavy roation on the radio and the video was being played constantly on BET and MTV 2. Although I liked "Like A Pimp" and David Banner's 2nd single, "Cadillac On 22s", I decided not to purchase his CD because I heard too many mixed reviews about "Mississippi: The Album". When "MTA 2: Baptized In Dirty Water" dropped in December 2003, I decided to take a chance on the CD because of all the guest appearances that were on the CD.The first single "Crank It Up" is a certified banger. David Banner has a way of creating songs that catch your attention. "Crank It Up" creates a buzz for this album just like "Like A Pimp" did for "Mississippi: The Album". This CD gets off to a nice start with "Eternal" and the 2nd track with Lil Flip entitled "Talk To Me". The track with Lil Flip has me waiting for the CD that is coming out that will feature both David Banner and Lil Flip on the same CD just like Method Man and Redman did on their "Blackout" CD. David Banner fans may be somewhat disappointed because "Talk To Me" doesn't sound as good as "Like A Pimp". However, it will be hard for him to match the success and popularity of that song. "Gots To Go" features Bun B of UGK and Devin The Dude and is definitely one of MTA 2's better tracks. The three rappers do what they do best as they talk junk about the females of today. If anyone hasn't purchased Devin The Dude's 2 CDs, "The Dude" and "Just Trying To Live" then you might want to make your way to the nearest store or to amazon.com and add both of these CDs to your collection. "Ooh Ahh" continues the "crunk" tradition that is going on in the "New South" these days and this track is one of my favorite tracks on this CD. One advantage that David Banner has in his corner is that not only can he handle the lyrical side of things but he can also produce as well. To anyone that was nodding their head to TI's "Rubberband Man" they can thank David Banner who produced the track. "My Lord" sounds as if it's "Cadillac On 22's Volume 2" but you will be able to give David Banner the benefit of the doubt because of the positive message of the song. He has many sides to him. One minute he is displaying his "crunk side" and his distaste for the ladies and then the next he is speaking of positivity and how we have to show kids the right way to live, which displays his versatility. Other tracks to check out on "MTA 2: Baptized In Dirty Water" is "Pretty Pink" which features TI and Marcus, "The Game" which features the South legend, Scarface, "Lil Jones" featuring Bonecrusher and "Mama's House". On "The Game" Scarface shows that he still has the same skills that he has always displayed as he delivers a "fire" verse for the song. If David Banner hadn't have been singing at the beginning of the track, this would be my favorite song on this CD. On the remix to "Like A Pimp", David Banner is definitely outshined by Twista and Busta Rhymes who rip the track to shreds. In the future, he may want to make sure that he delivers the same "fire" as his featured artists do.Overall, "MTA 2: Baptized In Dirty Water" is a nice CD. If you bought the "Mississippi: The Album" and you liked that CD then you will definitely like MTA 2 as this CD takes place where MTA 1 left off. However, if you weren't a big fan of MTA 1 you may not like MTA 2 because the CDs are very similar. If you like "Like A Pimp" and none of his other tracks then you still may want to hold off purchasing MTA 2 because you won't find a track that is better than "Like A Pimp" on this CD although "Crank It Up" is close.If you can't get enough of David Banner then check him out on Lil Flip's double CD, "U Gotta Feel Me" on the tracks "Represent" and "Ain't No....", on Yung Wun's upcoming Cd on the track "Tear It Up" and on Young Buck's upcoming CD "Straight Outta Cashville" on the track with Lil Flip, "Welcome To The South".James' Top 51) Crank It Up
2) Talk To Me w/Lil Flip
3) Gots To Go w/Bun B of UGK & Devin The Dude
4) Ooh Ahh
5) The Game w/Scarface"

It's Straight

Enlightened | Atlanta Georgia | 03/02/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"David Banner made his nationwide debut about this time 2003 with the hit song 'Like A Pimp' and a successful album 'Mississippi: The Album'. In almost a DMX esque fashion, he dropped another album in December 2003. Unlike DMX though, this album falls a good ways from its predecessor. To start things off, the first single from this album is merely a remix to a song that's been too much played in the first place. 'Like A Pimp' remix adds Twista and Busta and serves as a worthy remix but fails to capture the magic of the original because they both have the same beat. The second single is flat out horrible. 'Crank It Up' hardly gets any play in the south and I sincerely doubt it gets play anywhere else. Song sucks. The lyrics on the album feel rushed and aren't as prolific as the previous one. The beats are just ok and for David Banner that is unacceptable because production is his main forte'.With all that said this album is still infectious with some really incredible songs. Eternal and My Lord are great reflective tracks with laid back beats and real rapping. The collaboration with Scarface sounds weird at first with Banner attempting to sing but eventually works out. And Scarface takes over the track as one would expect a legend to do. Banner shows out on 'Pretty Pink' with Jazze Pha and TI that has that classic signature Jazze Pha sound. Lil Jones (although truly released on Them Firewater Boyz) displays it's classic status because it still sounds fresh today. He gets crunk on 'Mama'z House', which is truly gangsta if you listen to it ( as a matter of fact one of the most menacing tracks I've ever heard ). I could see this one causing some type of trouble. The best song though is 'Gots To Go' featuring Bun B and the ever ridin Devin The Dude. Straight up ridin with a true to life chorus.David Banner drops above average on this one considering the facts that he isn't that dope of a rapper and that he recorded this cd in about 4 months and it has a bunch of remixes, interludes and recycled songs. In reality this should have been just an EP. But if you like David Banner this should hold you over until his next release. 3.5 Stars."

Tell The Church That The Preacher's Still Sinnin ...

J. Lochead | England, UK | 08/07/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"David Banner is one of the many new faces to blew up from the Dirty South. He's here to tell you that the south's where it's at, and is able to escape a lot of of the critiscm that southern hip hop gets through his deep lyrics. David Banner packs that energy and makes his presence felt when he's on the mic. Plus he's one of the heardest producers to hit the scene in the last couple of years. The beats are true Dirty South bangers. On his sophmore album, "MTA2: Baptized In Dirty Water", Banner shows his ability to rip through each and every track. "Gots To Go" is one of the best sogns I've heard in the last year.



David Banner's raps have a lot of substance and meaning to them. He proves this on "Eternal" and "My Lord" where he addresses religion in todays life. Being from the South, Banner knows how to get it crunk, evident by the singles "Like A Pimp (Remix)" and "Crank It Up". He steps up and represents Mississippi on "Pop That" with Sky. He gets pimpin' on "Gots To Go", which sports a great beat, as well as Banner, Devin The Dude and Bun B having some great flows and lyrics. Easily the best song on the album. The whole of "MTA2" is ridin'. The only song I didn't really like was "Airforce Ones (Remix)" which could not even be salvaged by Nelly and 8Ball.



David Banner is one of the faces on the New South, holding it down with his own style and scheme. Packed with excellent beats, lyrics and style, this is truly recommended. 5 stars."